Letters to the editor - May 9, 2013

Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Victory through voter suppression

Defenders of film incentives mistakenly assume calls to eliminate or change them have anything to do with budgets, taxes or public policy. Moreover, the gratuitous claim that incentives created fewer jobs than would be created with tax cuts reflect not a dispassionate tax study, but a blatant political statement from a supposed neutral staffer.

No data are given … It is a staple of conservatives that lower taxes equal more jobs, as though a sound businessman ever created a job he didn’t need for an employee he doesn’t want. … It is Laffer Curve redux.

The real problem is that film incentives create too many jobs for the wrong voters. You know, Democrats. Leave aside any ethical justification for bribing any business with tax money. “Everybody does it” is your mother’s “If everybody walked off the cliff …” response.

The right assumes – probably correctly, and certainly after this tactic – that movie folks vote Democratic.

And consider: What would two new legislators named Millis and Catlin know about tax policy? Job creation? Really? They’re still hunting for the legislative men’s room.

The heavy hand of the über-right, Art Pope, is behind this.

After making inroads to suppress black and Hispanic votes, Republicans are after the last barrier to total domination: white liberals. If they can’t be stopped from voting, maybe they can be stopped at the border.

Charles Anderson, Burgaw

Lead, Mr. Obama

Why be president if you refuse to lead? President Obama now states the position that he is powerless to get anything passed because Congress is “broken.”

Isn’t that what he was going to fix if he won in 2008? What happened?

We have a being in a position of power that is enjoying the prestige and perks, but not delivering the effort to make good on his stated intentions. The liturgically stated goals never reach fruition. Great rhetorical phrases read from teleprompters don’t have much effect if you are too lazy to push, and push, and push some more to accomplish the goals you so eloquently defined. We the people have only the power of your lip service at play.

… The president is smart and eloquent, but that isn’t leadership. To complete a mission requires clearly defining it, committing everything in your powers to realize the intention, pushing others to help to attain the goal, and accomplishing the intended result.

Proclaiming high intentions but never delivering only alienates rather than inspires people. Such non-performance also leads to pervasive disenchant. Come on, man, you have the bully pulpit! The country, indeed our whole society, needs more than words.

<p><b>Victory through voter suppression</b></p><p>Defenders of film incentives mistakenly assume calls to eliminate or change them have anything to do with budgets, taxes or public policy. Moreover, the gratuitous claim that incentives created fewer jobs than would be created with tax cuts reflect not a dispassionate tax study, but a blatant political statement from a supposed neutral staffer.</p><p>No data are given … It is a staple of conservatives that lower taxes equal more jobs, as though a sound businessman ever created a job he didn't need for an employee he doesn't want. … It is Laffer Curve redux.</p><p>The real problem is that film incentives create too many jobs for the wrong voters. You know, Democrats. Leave aside any ethical justification for bribing any business with tax money. “Everybody does it” is your mother's “If everybody walked off the cliff …” response.</p><p>The right assumes – probably correctly, and certainly after this tactic – that movie folks vote Democratic. </p><p>And consider: What would two new legislators named Millis and Catlin know about tax policy? Job creation? Really? They're still hunting for the legislative men's room.</p><p>The heavy hand of the über-right, Art Pope, is behind this.</p><p>After making inroads to suppress black and Hispanic votes, Republicans are after the last barrier to total domination: white liberals. If they can't be stopped from voting, maybe they can be stopped at the border.</p><p>Charles Anderson, Burgaw</p><h3>Lead, Mr. Obama</h3>
<p>Why be president if you refuse to lead? President Obama now states the position that he is powerless to get anything passed because Congress is “broken.” </p><p>Isn't that what he was going to fix if he won in 2008? What happened?</p><p>We have a being in a position of power that is enjoying the prestige and perks, but not delivering the effort to make good on his stated intentions. The liturgically stated goals never reach fruition. Great rhetorical phrases read from teleprompters don't have much effect if you are too lazy to push, and push, and push some more to accomplish the goals you so eloquently defined. We the people have only the power of your lip service at play.</p><p>… The president is smart and eloquent, but that isn't leadership. To complete a mission requires clearly defining it, committing everything in your powers to realize the intention, pushing others to help to attain the goal, and accomplishing the intended result.</p><p>Proclaiming high intentions but never delivering only alienates rather than inspires people. Such non-performance also leads to pervasive disenchant. Come on, man, you have the bully pulpit! The country, indeed our whole society, needs more than words.</p><p>Ron Vigneri Sr., Wilmington</p>